CINCINNATI — A young girl in junior high was shocked when she saw her t-shirt was edited in her class photo, and says she doesn’t understand how the word “feminist” was seen as offensive.
The word “feminist” printed on Sophie Thomas’ t-shirt in the original 8th grade class photo at Clermont Northeastern Middle School is missing from the final product.
Thomas didn’t find out until she saw a picture her friend ordered.
“I checked it to make sure I didn’t look dumb or anything , closing my eyes. I saw that they that they had removed the word from my shirt, and I was insanely upset,” Thomas told WXIX.
The shirt does not violate the school’s dress code, according to school principal Kendra Young. She told Sophie the alteration was her decision.
Young says the photo is typically purchased by students and displayed in the school, and she wanted to keep it less controversial.
Thomas says her decision to wear the shirt on that day was unintentional.
“I was just showing everybody that this is me, and if you don’t like it, you don’t have to be my friend. But I’m going to stand up for what I believe in,” she told the TV station.
Thomas, her mother and school officials met a few days ago. They now plan to have a larger conversation about the social issue in the hallways.
“I’m happy that she’s getting so much support behind something she really believes in,” Sophie’s mother Christine Thomas said.
